: Rajkummar Rao starred in this dark political comedy about the vulnerabilities of democracy, earning India’s official selection for the Academy Awards.
These films dominated the box office and became cultural phenomena, often blending high star power with surprisingly strong narratives. YEARS OF INDIAN CINEMA - IMDb Report 2025
: Salman Khan delivered a massive commercial hit with this sports drama focused on a broken wrestler seeking redemption.
Sonam Kapoor delivered a career-defining performance as Neerja Bhanot, the brave flight purser who sacrificed her life to save passengers during a 1986 hijacking. index of hindi movies 2016 2021
: Released directly on Prime Video, this biographical war film about Captain Vikram Batra became an overnight cultural phenomenon, praised for its emotional weight and music.
2021:
Neerja is the highest rated Bollywood movie on Netflix!! 5 stars rating with 39 reviews!! What great news to start 2017! Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara : Rajkummar Rao starred in this dark political
The year 2021 saw a resurgence of Bollywood films, with several releases:
| Star | 2016-2017 | 2018-2019 | 2020-2021 | Verdict | |------|-----------|-----------|-----------|---------| | | 4 hits (e.g., Rustom ) | 6 hits ( Padman , Kesari ) | Mixed ( Laxmii OTT) | Last of the reliable theatrical stars | | Salman Khan | Sultan (blockbuster) | Bharat (average) | Radhe (OTT disaster) | Sharp decline | | Shah Rukh Khan | Dear Zindagi (hit) | Zero (flop) | No release | In transition | | Ayushmann Khurrana | Bareilly Ki Barfi (hit) | Article 15 , Dream Girl (super hits) | Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui (OTT) | The "new middle class" star | | Kangana Ranaut | Rangoon (flop) | Manikarnika (hit) | Thalaivii (mixed) | Polarizing but bankable in biopics |
Rajkumar Hirani’s biographical drama on the controversial life of actor Sanjay Dutt, starring Ranbir Kapoor in a transformative performance. 2019: Nationalism, Gritty Realism, and New Waves 5 stars rating with 39 reviews
: Sriram Raghavan’s brilliant black comedy thriller starring Ayushmann Khurrana and Tabu kept audiences guessing and became a massive hit both locally and in international markets like China.
The year 2021 saw the release of several Hindi movies that marked the comeback of big stars and explored new storylines. Some of the notable films from this year include: